48 Responses to “Curtis – They Burned Me (Final/Mastered)”

In 2010 I would definitely clown someone rockin’ Phat Farm or Rocawear, but I definitely would support Play Cloths

^^In 8 months you will be saying the same thing about Play Cloths though..we as blacks just love to put time/age limits on our own shit..be it music, clothes, cars… wtv

Niggaz “trend” everything..a big reason why white folks dont want us cosigning their shit most of the time….word to that 300 year champagne company that niggaz used, abused and discarded in 3 years.

^ It aint about trending it’s about transcending with the times. IMO, Rocawear, Phat Farm, and a few others got stuck in the 90′s with the abuse of logos and the underwhelming pieces that nobody rocks anymore. I don’t wanna walk in the store and see a Rocawear turtleneck in 2010 like that’s the business. I’m not a fashionista, but the things that I do like now are either simple (tees, cargo shorts, Levi 501′s) or artful (H&M, American Apparel which is also simple). LV, Gucci, Prada, etc. have basically been puttin’ out the same clothes, bags, shoes, since their inception. Italian designers hands down have the game on smash, whether it be the big brands I just named or a small shop with nice suits (see: Boyd’s in Philly). I want to support Black brands really bad, but not if it’s subpar. So you’re right, Play Cloths will get the same treatment Roc, Phat, Fubu, and others will get if I’m not impressed. But Polo has been “trending” back and forth forever and Ralph aint goin’ nowhere no time soon.

So you’re right, Play Cloths will get the same treatment Roc, Phat, Fubu, and others will get if I’m not impressed. But Polo has been “trending” back and forth forever and Ralph aint goin’ nowhere no time soon.

^Right, and the retort to this is what someone said earlier, that blacks tend not to get in business to produce quality products and services, just to make money. With that mind state, you’re not looking at quality, you’re just trying to maximize profits, build up a quick and fleeting brand and cash out at the right time.

So I don’t knock people for buying designer shit, word to my 5 pairs of prada sneakers, that will never go out of style to me, but, no one cant tell me that blacks can’t do the same shit

But Polo has been “trending” back and forth forever and Ralph aint goin’ nowhere no time soon.

^^To be honest no one(niggaz) was rocking polo “like that” a few years back(not saying they fell off). I’m not saying we shouldnt progress but at the same time doesnt mean we have to kill our OWN brands in the process..walk into a room and ask “who used to wear Karl Kani” and its like you asked “who here burning?”..we take little to no pride in having our own shit..if even to fall back on.

I buy what looks good to me at the time regardless of the brand.. i bought a rockawear button up bout a month ago, and i went to target and bought a mario no name t-shirt last week.

I never inderstood why niggas place so much value in brand names… if its to pull bitches then the ones that are only fucking with you cause you got on Gucci is shallow anyway..so do you reall want them?

But Polo has been “trending” back and forth forever and Ralph aint goin’ nowhere no time soon.

^^To be honest no one(niggaz) was rocking polo “like that” a few years back(not saying they fell off). I’m not saying we shouldnt progress but at the same time doesnt mean we have to kill our OWN brands in the process..walk into a room and ask “who used to wear Karl Kani” and its like you asked “who here burning?”..we take little to no pride in having our own shit..if even to fall back on.

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^ You’re right, no one was rockin’ like that a few years back which is why I said “back and forth”. Polo has had it’s phases with our generation but with or without us the brand isn’t going anywhere. We don’t have to kill our Black brands but we should expect them to keep up and even exceed the competition. Or, each company/designer just focused on the one they do best (whether it be shoes, shirts, or whatever) and team up with other designers who also have niche markets. Then, what you just created is a boutique. Also, we must deviate from the thought of just aiming our products at just Black people. As a matter of fact, if you really wanna be strategic, start off with simple designs and hit up these independent rap shows where you have a broad demographic. Fashion is all about being bold and reachin’ out to people. A Black owned business is still a Black owned business no matter WHO’S buying it. But you need to have goals in mind. For instance, if you plan to just do some local gear and cater it to that market then do that. DC has been doing it for years (Hobo, Mchunu, Shooters, etc). But if your goal is to reach other people then you gotta take a different route.

they placed me in this violent environment
block so hot they need to fire the cops and hire some firemen
thugs get placed in early retirement if they graze yo head
u made yo bed nigga now lie in it -saigon gems

So you’re right, Play Cloths will get the same treatment Roc, Phat, Fubu, and others will get if I’m not impressed. But Polo has been “trending” back and forth forever and Ralph aint goin’ nowhere no time soon.

^Right, and the retort to this is what someone said earlier, that blacks tend not to get in business to produce quality products and services, just to make money. With that mind state, you’re not looking at quality, you’re just trying to maximize profits, build up a quick and fleeting brand and cash out at the right time.

^I’m sayin’. Either you love what you do or you don’t. We use everything as just a hustle and wonder why it falls apart so quickly and then complain about it. You know how much work goes into a hand-crafted leather bag? I’m not a label whore and has NEVER owned any of those luxury brands, but I know quality stuff when I see it/touch it. The fabric, stitching, and patterns are meticulously done over and over again. Not to mention, it was a lot of failures before they made it big. People need to do their research and homework. “How much is sewing/pressing machine equipment?”… “How much is certain fabric per square inch?”… “Who are some of the local stores that will display my items and for how much?”

I don’t know all of the answers and questions but I’m sure there are more.

way before i ever heard of a dat or a 4 track
i was a stone crook nigga the hook i was off that
shorty that used to toss crack getting chased by the force on horseback
usually brought me down in 24 flat i’d be getting cuffed wit a knee in my back
bitches yelling get offa him im yelling to peter tell g where im at
situations hardly ever change traded guns for bigger and better things
married the streets exchanged wedding rings
now the flow will remain in your brain like amphetamines
niggas couldnt wreck the reign if they train to forever came
u lame u know how many names got framed
even little james got framed for some flames i aimed. – sai giddy gems

Also, we must deviate from the thought of just aiming our products at just Black people. As a matter of fact, if you really wanna be strategic, start off with simple designs and hit up these independent rap shows where you have a broad demographic. Fashion is all about being bold and reachin’ out to people. A Black owned business is still a Black owned business no matter WHO’S buying it. But you need to have goals in mind. For instance, if you plan to just do some local gear and cater it to that market then do that. DC has been doing it for years (Hobo, Mchunu, Shooters, etc). But if your goal is to reach other people then you gotta take a different route.

^^I understand what you’re saying, but in this world black consumers dont give black companies a fair chance..as a black clothing owner youll simply wake up one day and niggaz wont be fucking with u no more cause you arent trendy, no matter your quality..sean john, roc, etc was more popular than gucci a few years ago..now when those same black companies have to compete with established 100 year companies that’s where the demise of black companies happen.

Whites are still buying Tommy, DKNY etc.

Everything is cyclical so black owned clothing co’s will come back in style again, just not under the same names as which they left.

Also, we must deviate from the thought of just aiming our products at just Black people. As a matter of fact, if you really wanna be strategic, start off with simple designs and hit up these independent rap shows where you have a broad demographic. Fashion is all about being bold and reachin’ out to people. A Black owned business is still a Black owned business no matter WHO’S buying it. But you need to have goals in mind. For instance, if you plan to just do some local gear and cater it to that market then do that. DC has been doing it for years (Hobo, Mchunu, Shooters, etc). But if your goal is to reach other people then you gotta take a different route.

^^I understand what you’re saying, but in this world black consumers dont give black companies a fair chance..as a black clothing owner youll simply wake up one day and niggaz wont be fucking with u no more cause you arent trendy, no matter your quality..sean john, roc, etc was more popular than gucci a few years ago..now when those same black companies have to compete with established 100 year companies that’s where the demise of black companies happen.

Whites are still buying Tommy, DKNY etc.

Everything is cyclical so black owned clothing co’s will come back in style again, just not under the same names as which they left.

^ Which goes back to my original point is that you gotta play to win. Change is great. It’s hard to change something when you have success doing the same thing over and over again. But when you start to feel that people might be looking for something new then it’s time to reinvent yourself and your company and do something new. Put out a boutique line or a small collection in the same places other streetwear brands are sold and keep goin’. Then when the tables turn go back to doing what you were doing from the jump. The people who support those other brands (Tommy, Ralph, Nautica) is because they stick to the core of what they do: polos, pants, and sweaters. Yeah, they venture out and do other things because they know that there’s a market out there that always wants to see somethin’ new. Also, those brands erected [||] with a simple target audience in mind. Tommy had the preps. Nautica had the boaters (and fat people). Ralph had your casual man. We gotta stop trying to do/be everything and develop a niche. When all else fails you have to be able to fall back on the ones who helped build your brand. Skateboarders, construction workers, or whoever that may be.